** Update: Rob just told me that the ban is applicable only to convenience, drug, and grocery stores, *not* all retail stores. Also, Rob mentioned there will be a proposed ban on foam as well. (thanks Rob!)
Next time you’re in Seattle and you get the paper or plastic question, your answer might be neither. Seattle’s Mayor Richard Nickels and City Council President Richard Conlin recently proposed a 20 cent fee on all disposable bags. That’s right, ALL disposable bags, including both paper and plastic. Their stated goal is to encourage more people to carry reusable shopping bags. The ban would be effective across all retailers, not just supermarkets and grocery stores.
The 20 cent per bag fee would be divided between the retailer and the city. The city would receive 15 cents, and the retailer 5 cents. The exception is for retailers who earn less than $1 million in annual revenues – they would get to keep the entire 20 cent charge. It’s not clear how much revenue the city is estimated to make or what they would do with the funds, but Mayor Nickels and Conlin hope to encourage conservation and reduce the use of harmful disposable bags.
Seattle residents use an estimated 360 million disposable bags per year, most of which are plastic. Clearly, we can see the positive impact this will have. I’m not sure I agree with such a drastic measure, but this might be the type of sweeping legislation necessary to push people into action. 20 cents per bad definitely starts to reach a point where people will notice the difference.
Actually…referring to your first paragraph, this is not a ban and it only applies to convenience, drug, and grocery stores, not “all retailers…” as you state in the first paragraph.
Did you notice the part of the announcement regarding the proposed foam ban too?
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Rob,
Thanks for the clarification. I think I must have read a different announcement. The one I saw did not include any language around the proposed foam ban. It’s good to see people and government taking initiative.